Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Yesterday, the kids and I went to a birthday party for a family friend, Sean. He had his party at a laser tag place so the kids were all excited. Brooklyn dressed in her finest striped tank top, purple plaid shorts, and pink cowboy boots. Between games of laser tag and pizza and cake, the kids played games. Brooklyn played Skee-Ball. Actually, I'm not sure "played" is the correct word. She rolled the same ball up about 20 times. She rolled it up. It rolled back down. She rolled it up. It rolled back down. Her little friend, Emma, was doing the same drill right next to Brooklyn. Up, down, up, down, up, down. Emma's dad, Chris, stepped in to help her out. He whipped the ball up the slope, it hit a metal guard and ricocheted off, nearly taking out seven small kids in its path. Emma's mom, Jen, and I may or may not have laughed until we wet ourselves. Brooklyn gave up rolling the ball and threw it overhand with similar results. Okay, kids, enough Skee-Ball! Let's try Whack-a-Mole!

Clay got his tokens and headed straight to "The Claw". You know this game? Think Toy Story. You're supposed to maneuver this claw to pick up a toy and drop it into the slot where you can get it. How it works in reality, however, is that you put about $500 dollars worth of tokens in the thing and get nothing but a headache from it. Well, Clay walked over to the game and before I could stop him and redirect him to something else, he'd put his tokens in the machine.

I started to warn him. "Clayton, no one ever wins anything from that machine. It never works. Don't be disappointed when you, what the heck???" I stopped mid-sentence as he dropped a stuffed doll into the slot, grabbed it, and ran off.

I called after him, "Clayton! How did you do that?! He shrugged, giggled, and said, "I dunno. I did it like SpongeBob. BE the crane!"

When Brooklyn saw the doll that Clay had won, she dropped to the floor and started wailing that she wanted one too. Being ever compassionate, I told her, "Get a grip or I'm taking you home." She screamed even louder. I grabbed her hand to drag escort her to the car, but before I could move toward the door, Clay came running by and tossed the doll to Brooklyn, saying, "You can have it, Oata!" then he ran off giggling again.

Now what do you do with that? I try to be firm with Brooklyn. I try not to give in to her tantrums. But she has FIVE siblings who get sick of hearing her. They'll give her anything to shut her up and I don't blame them! And really, that was very sweet of Clay. He can be such a good big brother. So, once again, she got her way and the monster we're creating got a little bit worse.

To fully appreciate this, you have to hear Clay's infectious giggle. Here's an old video of Clay scaling the fridge to steal a cookie. Yes, the first several seconds are sideways. I know. Sorry about that. But listen to this kid laugh. You can't be sad listening to this.

29 comments:

Kari
said...

My 6 1/2 year old son has dubbed himself, "The Crane Master." Ever since he was 5, he gets stuffed toys from the crane machine 90% of the time he plays it (which really isn't often). That was super sweet of Clay to give Brooklyn the doll. I love when my kids are sweet to one another (that doesn't happen often either).

Thank you for the video. I needed the warning. I am surprised how right I was about the likenesses between Clayton and my 19-month-old daughter. What can I say? She's ahead for her age. At least now, thanks to you, I will not be surprised the next time she shows up with the bread, which she got down all by herself. She's been watching Clayton's blog...

that is excellent. yeah last night my 2 year old came running out of the kitchen with the biggest knife I own (so roughly half his body size) shouting "i'm going to kill you dragon" (as in he's a viking). I about had a heart attack...then I did have one when we were walking and he drank some random big gulp that was sitting around (whose? diseased? even filled with soda?!!!) and spit it all over me. wtf!?

I can't help but laugh along with him..but there is something faintly sinister about that laugh.. Like one day, he'll have his own Dexter's Laboratory in the secret room. Not doing anything outright evil, just new ways to mess with Dotty...er his other siblings :)

LOL! Too funny!! The Claaaaw! That's one of our favorites from Toy Story. Our family repeats it often...usually in response to something where you would usually say "Oooh or Aaaah". We're dorks - we know it!

Clay is part gymnast part Spiderman. You are missing the boat if you don't put this high energy kid into a gymnastic class! It would be a superb way to blow off steam and get him ready for a career as an Olympic gymnast!...Sharon

when we used to own bars, we would go to San Fran to this company that sold vending machines and games. They were all on free play so the clients could try them out to see if they would be a good fit for their business. (talk about fun, they would even allow you to keep the goodies from the machines)Anyhoo, they showed us a secret to those claw macheens. Inside the machine, they have a way to adjust the level difficulty. There are some geniuses that can still grab those animals even when its set to 'fleece the customer' mode. I've never had luck.

OMG, I really think my kids are related to yours...lol I am so glad I am not the only mom that has the same trials and tribulations that exists in your family. I am single mom of 4. I just started dating, and well...Are you sure you want to meet my kids??? lol...thanks for all your laughs especially those days when I feel like I am going to cRaCk..

Too funny!! #1 OMG!! we have the same fridge did you stinking door break off yet thanks to your kids??(cuz ours did!!) #2 I think I have seen this clip before and anyone who reads your posts or has read your book, NO IT IS NOTHING IS SAFE IN YOUR GARAGE!! LOL

I had to watch this while my kids were distracted, lol, can't give them any more ideas. My youngest, who is 7 and still wears a 5T, thought he would climb onto the counter to steal cookies, well he fell off, head first, thankfull the pocket of his shorts caught the handle on the cabinet, I amlost had a heart attack comming around the corner seeing him hanging upside down by his shorts from the cabinets! LOL